4 Dead, Dozens Injured After Car Crashes Into Oklahoma State University Homecoming Parade

Four people are dead and dozens more are injured after a car barreled through a crowd during Oklahoma State University's homecoming parade Saturday morning.

A car traveling southbound on Main Street hit several people near the intersection with Hall of Fame Ave. less than a mile east of Boone Pickens Stadium.

Updated October 25, 9:03 a.m.: Names of victims released

Stillwater police released the names of the victims Sunday morning, but withheld the names of the 12 juveniles either killed or injured during the crash.

23-year-old Nikita Prabhakar Nakal, an international student from India studying at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, died, along with 65-year-old Bonnie Jean Stone and 65-year-old Marvin Lyle Stone. A 2-year-old also died.

Five people remain in critical condition - three at the OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City, and two at St. John's Medical Center and Hospital in Tulsa. Four others were listed in Fair Condition, two in Stable Condition, two in Good Condition, and four others with non-life-threatening injuries. All others were treated and released. A total of 47 people were injured in addition to the four killed.

The main suspect in the incident, 25-year-old Stillwater resident Adacia Chambers, remains in the Stillwater jail. She'll likely appear Monday before a Payne County District Judge, with additional charges to be presented to the District Attorney's office beyond the initial complaint of driving under the influence.

Updated 6:25 p.m.: Fourth victim dies

The University of Oklahoma Medical Center has confirmed a fourth victim, a 2-year-old child, has died from injuries sustained during Saturday's incident in Stillwater.

Police have cleared the scene, and reopened the Stillwater intersection to traffic more than seven hours after Saturday morning's deadly crash. 

Updated 3:50 p.m.: Eyewitnesses recount how the event unfolded

Gail Lamb and her family were standing just south of the intersection when the incident occurred. 

"I saw the vehicle and then I knew. I saw bodies in the street that they were trying to get covered up and then I knew it was really, really bad," Lamb told KOSU's Kelly Burley. "Being that I lost my son in a car accident, I for some reason just had to stand there and just see for myself what really happened, and try to process it."

Spencer Rogers was working as a parking attendant outside the Food Pyramid Grocery Store near the scene of the tragedy.

"I just heard a big thud and heard a lot of screaming and people just ran toward the intersection," Rogers said. "So I run up there to see what was going on and seen a car that had plowed through the parade."

Keating Fladie is an OSU student who was arriving to work at the nearby Red Lobster shortly after the accident and said there were several vehicles affected by the collision.

"Lots of clothing, tents, chairs, scattered, thrown about," Fladie said. "As for people, there weren’t any. They already cleared all that away by the time I had gotten here, however, you can still see where they marked off cones for those who needed to be examined.”
 

Updated 2:44 p.m.: Suspect booked into City of Stillwater Jail

25-year-old Stillwater resident Adacia Avery Chambers has been booked into the Stillwater jail for driving under the influence after allegedly plowing into dozens of onlookers during the parade Saturday morning.
 

Credit Stillwater Police Department

She has no prior criminal history. Her Facebook profile indicates she's a native of Oologah, although no other information was posted publicly.

Stillwater police say eight people were critically injured in the crash. Seven were flown from the scene by helicopter, and one was transported to Stillwater Medical Center. Nine seriously injured victims were transported to Stillwater Medical Center, and 17 described as "walking wounded" went to the same hospital by private vehicle for treatment.  

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Gov. Mary Fallin said multiple law enforcement agencies are assisting with the response. She planned to be in Stillwater Saturday afternoon to offer support and condolences.

Stillwater Police Capt. Kyle Gibbs said the 2014 Hyundai Elantra struck an unmanned police motorcycle before hitting the crowd at approximately 10:31 a.m. Gibbs said 22 more people were injured.

"Eight persons who are critically injured, and they've been flown from the scene by air ambulance," Gibbs said. "We know of seven serious injuries, and an additional seven what we term 'walking wounded,' or less serious injuries. All of those people have been sent to Stillwater Medical Center for treatment."

Gibbs said the driver of the vehicle, 25-year-old Stillwater resident Adacia Chambers, was arrested for driving under the influence, and is currently held at the Stillwater Police Station. He said she was not a student at OSU.

Gibbs urged anyone who witnessed the crash, especially those who might have video of the event, to contact the department. Stillwater police are treating the investigation as they would any homicide.

Geoff Eaton was at the parade with his family, and said on Twitter witnesses reported seeing the car go through a barricade and accelerate to as fast as 50 miles per hour when it hit the crowd.

"[The] Oklahoma State homecoming parade is probably one of the most wholesome, happy events in the country," President Burns Hargis said during a Saturday afternoon news conference. "And to have it fouled like this, and these victims, is a terrible tragedy."

Saturday's events mark yet another devastating loss for Oklahoma State University. In January 2001 a plane carrying support staff and members of the OSU men's basketball team crashed in Colorado, killing all 10 people on board. In November 2011, a private plane piloted by a former Oklahoma state Senator and his wife crashed in Arkansas while carrying OSU women's head basketball coach Kurt Budke and assistant Miranda Serna. All four people on board perished.

"The Cowboy family pulls together," Hargis said. "Unfortunately, we've had to do it before. And we're going to do it again."

Hargis said the 2:30 p.m. game between Oklahoma State University and the University of Kansas will go on as scheduled. A moment of silence was held at the University of Oklahoma's football game starting at the same time.